10 Beloved Gaming Franchises That Quietly Died Without Anyone Noticing

by

With so many new games being released, it’s easy to overlook the classics that paved the way for modern gaming. Many beloved series have disappeared over time, and there are a few we’re really sad to see that probably won’t get any new installments.

We’re discussing games that briefly became popular but then disappeared, often because they ran out of money or simply weren’t successful enough to stay afloat.

We’re going to take a look at some game franchises that disappeared without a trace.

10. Darksiders

Waiting For The FouHorsemenan

The Darksiders series is fun, but it’s always struggled to find its identity. It tries to be an action game, a role-playing game, and even feels like a copy of The Legend of Zelda at times. While the first two games are genuinely good, the third one didn’t build on their story and its new main character wasn’t as interesting to play as the original, literally Death. This caused interest in the series to fade away.

Some fans are hoping for a new game featuring all four of the Horsemen working together in a big adventure. However, the series hasn’t delivered anything exciting lately, and feels like it’s lost its spark.

9. Jak and Daxter

The Mascots Have Gone

Jak and Daxter are a legendary pair in gaming. They starred in a series of highly-rated games with a dedicated fanbase, consistently making a strong impact on the gaming scene. The games were fantastic platformers that cleverly blended action-adventure gameplay with unique third-person shooting, all set within beautifully designed worlds. The series was consistently well-received by critics, leaving many wondering why it ended.

Naughty Dog really hit the big time with games like Uncharted and The Last of Us. They moved on from their earlier, more cartoonish style, like the Jak and Daxter series, and haven’t revisited it since. While Jak and Daxter was a distinctive game and fairly unique, there doesn’t seem to be a huge amount of interest in a revival.

8. Syphon Filter

Our Forgotten Operative

The game Syphon Filter often gets overlooked, but it’s a strong title that shares similarities with both Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell. Players control Gabe Logan, a secret agent involved in complex plots and conflicts, and the series as a whole is consistently well-made.

The Syphon Filter series wasn’t a blockbuster, but it was consistently good and maintained a dedicated fanbase from the 1990s until around 2008. The last game, Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow, seemed heavily influenced by the darker, more realistic style of Splinter Cell.

The show wasn’t successful enough to justify continued funding from SONY, despite having a dedicated fanbase – I was one of them. While it’s largely forgotten now, it was a fun series with exciting action and solid third-person shooting. It also featured some creative moments, like a memorable boss battle where you had to knock an armored enemy into a helicopter rotor to win.

7. Shadow Hearts

The Dark JRPG

Released in the early 2000s, Shadow Hearts stood out as a distinctive JRPG. It wasn’t afraid to tackle mature and often unsettling themes, which was refreshing for the time. The game also featured a fantastic combat system, notably incorporating a timed mechanic that later became more common in games like Lost Odyssey and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

The Shadow Hearts series started strong with two successful games that offered a unique experience for JRPG players, carving out a dedicated fanbase. However, the third installment, Shadow Hearts: The New World, didn’t resonate with anyone – not even the fans of the original games. While the series is largely forgotten now, it remains a highlight of Midway Games’ history and influenced many JRPGs that followed.

6. Starcraft

Remembering the GOAT

Starcraft was once the most popular real-time strategy game, but its prominence has faded over time. Though a dedicated community still exists, it doesn’t receive the same attention it once did. While the sequel, released in 2010, was initially successful, the series hasn’t been a major focus since then. Blizzard seems to have shifted its attention almost entirely to World of Warcraft, largely neglecting its original flagship franchise.

The main problem with Starcraft 2 was its lack of innovation. Over a decade after the original game, it still featured the same three races, and the graphics weren’t significantly updated. It felt like Blizzard wasn’t fully committed to the franchise, and ultimately let it fade away. While there’s still a small community playing and some tournaments happening, the series is essentially inactive for now.

5. The Evil Within

The Better Evil

As a huge horror fan, it really bums me out that The Evil Within seems to have been forgotten. Honestly, I think it’s a better series than Resident Evil! Everything from the story to the creepy atmosphere just works so well, and it genuinely scares me more. It’s a shame there have only been two games so far. The first one was okay, but the second is seriously one of the best horror games I’ve ever played.

The Evil Within is full of inventive and unsettling ideas that feel perfectly suited for today’s horror landscape, especially after games like Alan Wake 2. It’s a shame the series seems to have ended, especially with the success of Resident Evil and the return of Silent Hill. However, none of those franchises quite capture the same blend of sci-fi horror and deep psychological themes that make The Evil Within so special and original – a combination that’s genuinely hard to replicate.

Even so, this game series is still a standout in the horror genre, offering unique creatures, memorable boss battles, and a truly exceptional story.

4. Mega Man

One of Gaming’s First Attractions

Mega Man is just as important to the history of video games as Super Mario. Capcom’s iconic character was incredibly popular, with every game in the 1990s being a success. The series began to decline when games moved to fully 3D graphics, though it still had some strong titles. However, it became clear that the franchise’s peak had passed.

Since the early 2000s, Mega Man hasn’t been as popular with Capcom as some of their other franchises. The company has focused more on mature games like Resident Evil, and Mega Man has largely faded from view. While side-scrolling platformers still exist, the poor reception of Mighty No. 9 may have discouraged Capcom from revisiting the Mega Man series.

3. Chrono Trigger/Cross

The Time has passed


Image Via Square Enix

Both Chrono Cross and Chrono Trigger are considered classics from the 1990s, but the Chrono series hasn’t had a new installment since. Fans are currently excited about games like Final Fantasy and Octopath Traveler, so many wonder what happened to the Chrono games and if we’ll ever see another one.

Chrono Cross was a truly special game, boasting amazing music, memorable characters, and a beautifully realized game world – something many modern games struggle to achieve. The feeling of exploring its world felt like stepping into another dimension. While it’s a nostalgic experience, it still holds up today. Sadly, the recent remaster didn’t recapture the game’s former glory, largely due to a lack of significant improvements or updates.

Now that Final Fantasy is popular again, the chances of seeing the previously discussed game, Chrono Break, seem slim, but I’m still hopeful it will happen.

2. SOCOM

The Mission is Over

SOCOM was a truly innovative game when it first came out. It helped launch online gaming on the PlayStation 2 and inspired a whole new era of gameplay. What really stood out was the strong team communication and the realistic, serious tone – something that was rare in games during the early 2000s.

The series began very strongly, but its quality declined after the initial releases, which were generally well-liked. It feels like a precursor to the Ghost Recon games, and it’s obvious this title heavily influenced Ghost Recon‘s move to a third-person perspective. While it was a great series that continued into the PlayStation 3 generation, it eventually lost relevance. I’d be thrilled to see it return, but the military shooter genre has largely disappeared from the spotlight.

Games like Ready or Not successfully use a team-focused approach, and Sony might consider acquiring a studio to bring something similar back in the future.

1. Medal of Honor

The Start of The War

The Medal of Honor series paved the way for games like Call of Duty. It was incredibly popular online, featured memorable moments, and offered a remarkably realistic portrayal of World War II. The D-Day level in Medal of Honor: Allied Assault is considered a classic – it’s historically accurate, intensely frightening, and incredibly fun to play.

The series did well for a while, but around the mid-2000s, everything changed with the release of Call of Duty 2 on newer consoles. It significantly altered the gaming landscape, and while the series attempted to adapt with a game similar to Modern Warfare, it became obvious it had been surpassed by a stronger competitor.

Honestly, the latest game in the series was a VR title, and while I enjoyed it, it just didn’t live up to the hype of the older games. It was okay, but nowhere near as good as I remembered, and it feels like it’s already been forgotten with Call of Duty still ruling the gaming world.

Read More

2025-11-15 21:12